Ratepayers would Bear Brunt of Local Government Association Led Referendums

13 July 2007

Ratepayers would Bear Brunt of Local Government Association Led Referendums

Local Government Minister Andrew Fraser today labelled Local Government Association led referendums an exercise in futility and a waste of ratepayer’s money.

Mr Fraser has written to Local Government Association of Queensland President Cr Paul Bell restating the Government’s commitment to sensible and timely reform.

“The LGAQ’s push to have councils across Queensland stage individual referendums on local government reform is nothing more than a publicity stunt,” Mr Fraser said.

“As the organisation has already acknowledged, any proposed poll would have no bearing whatsoever on the reform process, nor is it binding.

“A key plank of our democracy is that boundaries are determined by an independent commission not by elected representatives that contest those boundaries.”

Mr Fraser said Queenslanders have already had a say in the reform process, contributing around 36,000 pieces of correspondence to the independent Local Government Reform Commission, tasked with the job of reviewing boundaries.

“I have every confidence the Commission will provided a framework for local government that acknowledges the Queensland of 2007 is very different to the Queensland of 1907,” he said.

“There will be local government elections on 15 March next year as scheduled and everyone will have a say, but until then I would discourage referendums as a pointless use of ratepayers money.”

Mr Fraser said there is a reserve power in the Local Government Act for the Local Government Minister to overturn a council resolution if considered it is not in the public interest.

“I would not hesitate to take this course of action in the interest of Queensland ratepayers,” he said.

Please see attached letter to LGAQ President Cr Paul Bell.

Media Contact: Chris Ward 0418 424 654